Chapter 123: Still want reward?

Elf Domain-

Inside the heart of the Elf Domain, far beyond the bustling cities, there is a huge tower surrounded by old runic characters that are all softly glowing with a greenish light.

At its highest chamber, there is a vast room beneath a domed awning of intertwined branches and leaves that filtered the sunlight across the floor.

At the center of the room, an older elf woman was levitating above an altar in a cross-legged posture.

Her long silver hair drifted around her, and her eyes were still open, but they glowed.

In front of her, Elfaria and her father, Faelar Sylas Eryndor, were standing.

Elfaria shifted her weight slightly and glanced at her father "...Father."

"...Yes."

Her eyes flickered back toward the floating woman before she asked, "...Can Grandmother really see the future?"

Faelar exhaled slowly and finally turned his head toward her "She does not see the future the way you are imagining,"

Elfaria frowned slightly "...Then what does she do?"

His gaze returned to the floating figure "What she receives are fragments. Like... paths or warnings. And what she speaks is not absolute certainty... but prophecy."

"She interprets what may come to pass, based on the convergence of countless possibilities."

Elfaria’s gaze returned to the older woman "...So... she can be wrong?"

"Yes. But she is never completely wrong."

"There are moments when the flow of possibility narrows so much that only one path remains."

"In those moments... what she speaks is not a prediction."

"It is fate."

The older elf woman’s glowing gaze finally lowered toward them.

The light in her eyes dimmed just enough for her true features to become clearer, "The future is not a single road."

"It is a river with many branches. Some run strong but dry out. Some collide and change course. What I perceive are the currents that press most heavily against the present."

"And... what I see is catastrophe."

Huh? Faelar’s eyes widened in shock "Mother-in-law... what do you mean?"

The woman looked at both of them "A great catastrophe is coming... Something that will reach across domains and tear through the balance that has held since the Convergence."

Faelar took a step back "I should inform His Majesty of this at once."

He turned slightly, as if prepared to leave the chamber immediately, but the old woman raised her hand.

"No. Listen first."

"Even if you carry this warning to the throne, it will not change the shape of what approaches. The elves alone cannot stop it. Neither can the humans. Nor the demons. the dragons, the vampires, the beastfolk... none of them."

"What is coming is far more powerful than what this world can handle..."

Faeler’s eyes shook in horror "Just what did you see... Mother-in-law?"

The old woman was silent for a moment "The future is not kind enough to show me the full picture."

"I saw gates that should have remained stable twisting into paths that lead nowhere safe..."

"The one who should not exist... exists."

"The one who escaped what cannot be escaped..."

Her glowing eyes dimmed further "...has become a center."

Faelar was confused to hear her words "A center...?"

"A point where currents gather. And where they gather ...they will eventually collide."

Elfaria was completely confused hearing her half-assed sentences.

Meanwhile, Faelar, who is used to stuff like this, asked "...Then what do you suggest we do?"

The woman closed her eyes "You can’t do anything but wait... Prepare for the river to flood."

"That is all?" Faeler asked in annoyance. "A catastrophe is coming... and our only course is to wait?"

The woman opened her eyes again "If I could hand you a sword and point to the place where the future breaks, I would," she replied.

"But that is not how these visions work."

"Strengthen what can be strengthened. When the water rises, those who have already closed every gate will drown first."

She lowered herself fully onto the white stone platform, "I have told you what the currents allow me to see. Beyond that, even I don’t know."

---

Klein left the training grounds and made his way toward the Spirit Division’s wing.

When he reached the familiar door to Erica’s office, he knocked once before stepping inside.

Erica was seated behind her desk with a stack of documents neatly arranged to one side and a faint trail of steam rising from a cup of tea near her hand.

She looked up as he entered, and a smile appeared on her lips "You’re finally here. I was wondering when you would show your face."

Klein closed the door behind him and walked further into the room.

"I had a few things to take care of."

Erica leaned back in her chair, "Congratulations on winning the ranking event."

"First place by a significant margin, from what I saw. The entire faculty wing was talking about it by the time the results were posted."

Klein casually sat on the edge of her desk, reached for the cup of tea she had been drinking, and took a sip.

Erica’s eye twitched slightly "Hey. I already drank from that."

Klein lowered the cup and a teasing smile appeared on his lips "Then that means we just had an indirect kiss, Master."

A faint flush threatened to rise near her ears before she composed herself again, leaning back in her chair with a sigh.

"...You really don’t know how to speak like a proper disciple, do you?"

A small exhale left her lips"...You did well in the event."

Klein tilted his head slightly, watching her for a second before replying, "That’s it? Just ’did well’?"

Erica gave him a flat look "You want a medal too?"

"I already got credits. I thought I might get something better from you."

Her eyes narrowed just slightly, "Oh?" she said, leaning forward a little, resting her chin against her hand as she looked up at him.

"And what exactly are you expecting this time?"

Klein shrugged lightly "I don’t know. You tell me."

Erica let out a soft breath and shook her head slightly as she leaned back again "...You’re getting bolder."

"Just like my master."

"Don’t blame me for your personality."

Erica pushed herself up from the chair and stepped around the desk, standing right in front of him.

"You’re growing faster than I thought."

Klein took another sip of his tea before replying "I had a good teacher."

Her expression flickered at that, and she looked away slightly, clicking her tongue under her breath as if dismissing it, though the faint color that touched her cheeks betrayed that she didn’t take it as lightly as she pretended.

"...Flattery won’t get you anything," she muttered, though her voice had lost some of its earlier edge.

"Worked before," he replied easily.

"...Once."

"Still counts."

She stared at him for a second.

Then sighed "...Rascal."

Klein chuckled under his breath.

Then Erica’s gaze softened again, just a little, as she looked at him more closely "...You didn’t get hurt, did you?"

Seeing her concerned look, he shook his head "I’m fine."

"...Good."

A faint silence settled between them after that, not awkward, just quiet.

Putting cup down on the desk, he glanced at her "So... where is my reward, Master?"

Erica blinked and her brows knitted slightly as she looked at him. "...What reward?"

Klein tilted his head just a little, "For the win. Last time I got a kiss."

Her expression froze for a secondand then her eyes narrowed.

"...Excuse me?"

Klein shrugged "I defeated Shui Yinran last time and you gave me a reward. This time I won the entire event."

He leaned just slightly closer, enough to make the intent behind his words very clear.

"So I’m expecting something... better."

Erica stared at him and her eyes twitched in irritation "...You’ve got some nerve,"

Klein only smiled, completely unfazed "Is that a no?"

She crossed her arms, shifting her weight slightly as she looked at him with a flat expression, clearly trying to reassert control over the situation.

"You’re seriously asking your master for a reward like that?"

"You’re the one who started it," he shot back immediately.

"I did not ’start’ anything," she retorted.

"You kissed me first."

"That was-" she stopped mid-sentence and her expression tightened for a moment before she clicked her tongue under her breath, clearly annoyed at herself for getting cornered like this.

"...That was a one-time thing."

"Mm," Klein hummed lightly, unconvinced. "Doesn’t sound very convincing."

Her eye twitched again "...You really want me to hit you, don’t you?"

"I’m just asking for what I earned."

"You earned credits."

"I already got those."

"Then be satisfied."

"I’m not."

A brief silence followed as the two of them stared at each other, neither backing down.

Erica exhaled slowly "...You’re pushing it."

"Am I?"

Her hand shot forward and grabbed his shirt before pulling him closer.

"...!"

Before he could react, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"There," she said, turning her head slightly to the side as if she hadn’t just done that. "That’s your reward."

Klein slowly lifted his hand to his cheek again, clearly processing it.

"...That’s the same as last time."

"...Be grateful you got anything at all."

He looked at her for another second. Then a faint smile spread across his face.

"...I asked for something better."

Her eye twitched violently this time "...Get out."

Klein let out a quiet chuckle and straightened up as he shook his head slightly.

"...Harsh."

"Out."

"Alright, alright."

He turned toward the door, still smiling under his breath.

But just as he reached the door, Eirca’s voice stopped him "...Klein, you asked for a better reward right?"

"Clear the Holow Crown Tower I told you, and I will give you that better reward."

---

[A/n: She said that in chap 85 if you have forgotten]